Co-Founder, Generate
Co-founder of Generate, a cross-platform production and management company; co-founder, and later president, of the now defunct WB Network
PROFILE
Jordan Levin
Guest
FROM Jordan Levin
Which Way, L.A.?
Hollywood Meets the Internet and Economic Reality Hollywood is waking up to technology and economics. Studios are becoming revolving doors for executives, and the standards for "green-lighting" new projects aren't what they used to be.
To the Point
Hollywood Meets the Internet and Economic Reality With so much free content on-line, the business model for movies just doesn't work any more. Revenues from DVD's are declining fast, as is backing from wealthy "angels" with big money to spend. And this was a summer of box-office flops. Studios are becoming revolving doors for executives, and are basing productions on comic books, graphic novels, webisodes and video games that can be serialized and "branded" for easy marketing. "Specialty" projects aimed at adults are fewer and farther between. We see how the wide world of entertainment is changing.
To the Point
Viacom Sues YouTube The Internet website YouTube is growing like mad. Last year's nine million monthly visitors skyrocketed to 133 million this year, and Google purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion. Surveys show that 100 million video clips are viewed on YouTube every day and they're not all amateur home movies. Big-time producers want their pieces of YouTube's action. Viacom -- which owns Comedy Central , MTV and Nickelodeon --says Jon Stewart , Stephen Colbert and SpongeBob SquarePants have been appearing on YouTube for free. So, Viacom has sued YouTube for a billion dollars in damages. Will innovation and creativity be delayed as the law catches up with technology? We get perspective from attorneys, media analysts and former network execs.
Recommended
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.